Our August Art and Culture event is a SWIC Guided Tour of NSW Government House, the Official Residence and Office of Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, 39th Governor of New South Wales and Mr Dennis Wilson. Her Excellency is the 28th Governor to occupy this Government House and has held the position since 2 May 2019.
In 1788, soon after a British settlement was established at Sydney Cove, the first Governor of the colony of New South Wales, Governor Arthur Phillip, laid the foundations of Sydney’s first Government House. It was located in Bridge Street (on the site of the Museum of Sydney) and was home to successive governors until 1845 when Governor Sir George Gipps, 9th Governor of New South Wales took up residence in the present Government House. Locally quarried sandstone was used for the construction of this new House. Its location and architectural Elizabethan Gothic Revival style was influenced by the existing Governor’s Stables, that had been completed in 1821 (now the Conservatorium of Music located at the main entry gates to Government House). The present Government House is characterised by castellated towers and other medieval features.
Over the years the building has been extended, refurbished and modernised to suit the tastes and needs of successive Governors. Today, the House holds a significant collection of portraits, furniture, decorative arts and gubernatorial memorabilia as a result of Vice Regal patronage.
PLEASE NOTE: Government House Sydney is the official residence and office of the Governor of New South Wales. For security purposes SWIC is required to complete a Visitor Registration Form prior to your attendance on this tour. Your name and valid identification is mandatory. One of the following will suffice. (Passport number, Driver’s license number, Medicare Card number, Senior’s card number).
DATE: Friday 18 August 2023
TIME: There will be two tours 11am/11.15am
Tour 1 commences at 11am
Tour 2 commences at 11.15am
Tour Duration: 1 hour plus extra time if you wish to do a self-guided tour of the grounds.
VENUE: NSW Government House
ADDRESS: Government House Sydney
Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
PHONE: 02 9228 4111
MEETING PLACE: To be advised for those attending
COST: Nil Cost
RSVP TO: Kay Nicholas Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0438469044
RSVP BY: 8 August 2023
Please Note: RSVP by Email with your full name and contact phone number.
We will contact you after the closing date for your preferred identification information.
There are a maximum of 30 attendees for this event. When this event is full, we will go to a Waitlist.
TRANSPORT: Public transport is recommended.
